Talking About Customs in Mandarin: 'In My Country, We...' and Follow-Up Questions
Learn to describe customs from your own country in Mandarin and ask polite follow-up questions about Chinese customs, using 在我们国家 and the question pattern 你们那边…吗？
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
When Chinese friends ask about your home country, the most useful opening is 在我们国家 (zài wǒmen guójiā), meaning 'in my country'. You can follow it with a habitual statement, then invite comparison by asking 你们这边呢？(nǐmen zhèbiān ne?), 'what about around here?' This lesson teaches you to describe everyday customs such as greetings, meals, gift-giving and holidays, and to ask about Chinese norms without sounding like you are raising a social issue. Customs are shared habits and expectations; social issues are public problems. Keeping that distinction helps your questions sound curious rather than critical. You will practise the adverb 一般 (yìbān, 'usually'), the verb 习惯 (xíguàn, 'to be used to; a habit'), and soft question forms.
By the end, you can…
- describe a custom from my country using 在我们国家…
- ask a polite follow-up question about a Chinese custom using 你们这边…吗？
- use 一般 and 习惯 to talk about usual practices and personal habits
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
在我们国家，我们一般……
In my country, we usually...
zài wǒmen guójiā, wǒmen yìbān……
The standard opening for describing a home-country custom. 一般 softens the statement to 'usually', so it does not sound like a rule for everyone.
你们这边呢？
What about around here? / And here?
nǐmen zhèbiān ne?
A friendly way to invite your listener to describe local practice. 这边 means 'around here' and is less formal than 贵国.
这有什么讲究吗？
Is there any particular custom or etiquette about this?
zhè yǒu shénme jiǎngjiu ma?
讲究 (jiǎngjiu) means 'particular rules or refined practice'. Use it for etiquette around gifts, meals, weddings and festivals.
我还不习惯，不过我在慢慢适应。
I'm not used to it yet, but I'm gradually adapting.
wǒ hái bù xíguàn, búguò wǒ zài mànmàn shìyìng.
习惯 here is a verb: 'to be used to'. 适应 (shìyìng) means 'to adapt'. This keeps a comment about difference personal, not judgmental.
入乡随俗嘛。
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
rù xiāng suí sú ma.
A common saying meaning 'in a new place, follow local customs'. The particle 嘛 (ma) makes it sound relaxed and agreeable.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern 在我们国家，我们一般 + verb phrase describes a habitual custom: 在我们国家，我们一般见面的时候握手。('In my country, we usually shake hands when we meet.') To ask about the local equivalent, use 你们这边 + verb phrase + 吗？: 你们这边见面的时候也握手吗？('Do people here also shake hands when meeting?') Add 呢 to bounce the question back: 你们这边呢？ If you want to ask whether a practice has special etiquette, use 有什么讲究吗？ For personal adjustment, use 习惯 as a verb: 我还不习惯早上喝热水。('I'm still not used to drinking hot water in the morning.')
When to use it
Use these forms in casual conversation with classmates, colleagues or hosts, especially when comparing everyday habits. They suit greetings, meals, gift-giving, festivals and visiting homes. For example, after someone explains a Chinese custom, you can say 原来是这样，我们国家一般不一样 ('I see, in my country it's usually different') and then ask 那过年的时候有什么讲究吗？('So is there particular etiquette during Chinese New Year?') Avoid turning the exchange into a debate about which custom is better. If a practice surprises you, say 我第一次听说 ('this is the first time I've heard of it') or 挺有意思的 ('quite interesting') rather than 很奇怪 ('very strange').
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
在我们国家，朋友见面一般会拥抱一下。你们这边呢？
In my country, friends usually hug when they meet. What about around here?zài wǒmen guójiā, péngyou jiànmiàn yìbān huì yōngbào yíxià. nǐmen zhèbiān ne?我们这边熟人见面一般点点头，或者握握手。第一次见面很少拥抱。
Around here, people who know each other usually nod or shake hands. Hugging at a first meeting is rare.wǒmen zhèbiān shúrén jiànmiàn yìbān diǎndian tóu, huòzhě wòwo shǒu. dì yī cì jiànmiàn hěn shǎo yōngbào.明白了。那去别人家做客，带礼物有什么讲究吗？
I see. So when visiting someone's home, is there particular etiquette about bringing gifts?míngbai le. nà qù biérén jiā zuòkè, dài lǐwù yǒu shénme jiǎngjiu ma?一般带点水果或者点心就行。主人常常说“不用带”，但还是会收下。
Usually bringing some fruit or snacks is fine. The host often says 'you didn't need to bring anything', but will still accept it.yìbān dài diǎn shuǐguǒ huòzhě diǎnxin jiù xíng. zhǔrén chángcháng shuō “búyòng dài”, dàn háishì huì shōuxià.A little context goes a long way
Customs vary within China by region, generation and family, so treat 一般 as 'usually' rather than 'always'. Questions with 吗 and 呢 are neutral and friendly; direct comparisons like 为什么你们这么奇怪 sound critical. When someone describes a custom, a brief 原来是这样 or 挺有意思的 acknowledges it before you ask more.
One thing to watch for
Using 习惯 only as a noun and saying 我们国家有这个习惯吗？to ask about local practice.
Try this instead: 习惯 can be a noun ('habit') or a verb ('to be used to'). For local practice, ask 你们这边一般怎么做？('How do people usually do it around here?') or 这有什么讲究吗？ Use 我还不习惯…… only for your own adjustment: 我还不习惯用筷子吃饭。
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you say 'In my country, we usually eat dinner at seven' in Mandarin?
Show a sample answer
在我们国家，我们一般七点吃晚饭。
在我们国家 opens the custom, 我们一般 marks it as usual, and time comes before the verb. 我们通常七点吃晚饭 is also correct, though 通常 is slightly more formal.
2A friend explains a Chinese New Year custom. Which question politely asks whether there is special etiquette?
Show a sample answer
这有什么讲究吗？
讲究 asks about particular rules or etiquette and sounds curious, not critical. 这是什么意思？ asks about meaning instead, which is also acceptable if you truly do not understand.
3How do you say 'I'm not used to it yet, but I'm gradually adapting'?
Show a sample answer
我还不习惯，不过我在慢慢适应。
习惯 is a verb here, 还 shows 'not yet', and 在慢慢适应 expresses ongoing adaptation. 我还没习惯，不过我在慢慢适应 is equally natural.
Open with 在我们国家，我们一般… to share a custom, then ask 你们这边呢？ or 这有什么讲究吗？ to learn the local norm politely. Keep 习惯 for personal adjustment, and use 一般 to leave room for variation.
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